Panel light



H. RUEGER PANEL LIGHT Nov. 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1962 INVENTOR. HERMAN RuEeER H. RUEGER PANEL LIGHT Nov. 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1962 INVENTOR. HERMAN RUEGER M WW Q United States Patent 3,217,319 PANEL LIGHT Herman Rueger, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed July 19, 1962, Ser. No. 210,950 10 Claims. (Cl. 34-t)381) This invention relates to signal devices and more particularly to panel mounted pilot or indicator lights of the type used, for example, in appliances such as electric stoves and the like.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved signal device which may easily be secured within an Opening in the front of a supporting panel by merely pushing the device into the opening, and, while not accidentally dislodgable from the panel, yet may be withdrawn simply when the occasion so demands.

Another object is the provision of a signal device with integral locking elements so designed as to lock the device firmly into place in any of a number of panel thicknesses within a predetermined range, its flexible locking elements being arranged so as to self-adjust to the particular panel thickness.

Another object is to provide a new and improved signal device which is small in size and therefore requires a minimum of panel mounting area, but when mounted in close proximity to other similar lights, gives a clear indication from all viewing angles.

Another object is that of providing a signal device in which the connection between the leads of the lamp and the lamp terminals is reliable, yet made with simple application tools and inexpensive parts.

A further object is to provide a new and improved signal device made of a translucent material which can be easily molded or otherwise formed preferably with an integral section for dispersing the light rays given off by the lamp.

Another objective is that of providing a new and improved signal device inexpensively fabricated from plastic which will be expendable in use.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent when the description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of an em bodiment of a panel light in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the assembled panel light on reduced scale;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view generally similar 0 to FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken axially through the assembled housing;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken axially through the base with the lamp components in assembled position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the connection between a lead of the lamp and its associated terminal;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the base portion of the housing;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the panel light partially inserted into an opening in a panel;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view showing the panel light in a halfway inserted position with respect to the panel; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view showing the panel light fully inserted and locked into position in a hole in the panel.

Referring to the drawings, the indicator light includes a base 2 and cap 4. The base which is hollow and tubular shaped is molded from suitable plastic insulating mate- Patented Nov. 9, 1965 ice rial. One end of the base is closed by an integral head 6, whereas the other end is open and adapted to receive the lamp components. Near the open end and on the outer periphery of the base 2 are two laterally opposed latching elements 8 which protrude longitudinally from the open end with their tips extending laterally therefrom. Latching elements 8 latch into place in holes in the cap (as described hereinafter) to hold the base 2 and cap 4 together. The outer surface of each latching element 8 is longitudinally tapered as at it) so as to form rearwardly disposed transverse surfaces 12 to lock into slots provided in the cap, and prevent the base 2 and cap 4 from separating after assembly.

Extending forwardly from the open end 11 to a region of access, and integrally formed with the inside surface of the base 2, are a number of laterally opposed elongated support members 14, around which the wires 17 of the lamp components are looped, FIGURE 1, thus supporting the lamp and holding it in axial alignment on base 2. The support members 14 provide a cradle in the central section of the base, FIGURE 7, to receive the generally oblong lower end of the lamp and to assist in maintaining wires 17 is spaced relation.

Around the outer periphery of the base, near its central portion, is a circumferential ridge 18, its forwardly directed face 20 bottoms against the cap 4 and acts as a stop to limit longitudinal movement of the base 2 and cap 4 during assembly.

On the outer surface of the base are two longitudinal grooves 22 which run from the forwardly directed face 20 of circumferential ridge 18 to the open end 11. These grooves 22 meet and receive two integral keys on the cap, the purpose of which is to align the base 2 and cap 4 relative to each other when they are assembled.

The closed integral head 6 of the base 2 is generally I shaped in cross-sectional area, as can be seen in FIG- URES 8, 9, and 10, so as to provide channels 26 with upstanding edges 26a. This integral head 6 extends rearwardly from the rearwardly directed face 32 of the circumferential ridge 1%.

To provide for connection of the indicator lamp to external circuitry, the lead wires of the lamp components are connected to a pair of contact blades 28 which are mounted in the base, preferably in a snap-fit, to extend along channels 26 between edges 2&1.

One end of the contact blade 28, preferably a sheet metal stamping, is folded back on itself onto the wire conductor 17, FIGURE 6, and corrugated inclusive of the bight of the fold, by a suitable crimping tool. This results in cold forging the contact blade 28 to the wire conductor 17 into a substantially solid mass, thereby producing a good mechanical and electrical connection.

Spring clip terminals 30, of which there are many known in the art, serve to couple external lead wires 30a to blades 28, and advantageously are guided into coupling relation with the blades by channels 26.

Passageways 34, FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 7, extend between rearward face 32 and end 11 of the base, as can be seen particularly in FIGURE 4. These passageways 34 are provided with a reduced internal section 36. When the contact blade 28 is inserted into the base through open end 11, the blade passes through section 36, and when the blade is fully inserted, spring member as of the blade 28 snaps into place behind rearwardly disposed face 38. Passageways 34 have an enlarged section 41 with forward sloping edges to provide a lead in for the contact blades. The crimped or folded over section of the contact blades 28, which is now doubled in thickness, is slidably received in enlarged section 41. The contact blades have two laterally opposed protruding members 27 which abut ridge 31 in the base, FIGURE 7, to prevent the contact blade from being over-inserted into passageways 34. This arrangement locks and holds the contact blades into place in the base and prevents longitudinal movement of the blades relative to the base 2.

The base 2 which is tubular in shape, and hollow, has an open end 111 into which the lamp components are fitted. In the particular embodiment shown and described herein these lamp components include a neon lamp 54, therefore a resistor 76 is needed to reduce the line voltage to the low value at which neon lamps are typically rated. One lead wire from the lamp 54 is crimped or squeezed between two bent over surfaces of a blade contact 28, as can be seen in FIGURE 6; the other wire from the lamp is welded or otherwise connected as at 78 to one lead wire of resistor 76. The other lead wire of the resistor is crimped to the second terminal in the same manner as explained above, thus resulting in the component parts connected in series. The terminals 28 are then inserted into passageways 34 to lie along channels 26 with the lamp cradled in support members 14 and the wires looped around members 14 as best shown in FIGURES l and 5. In this connection electrical spacing of the Wires within base 2 may be assured by a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal ribs 39 on the inside walls of base 2. Disposing resistor 76 between ribs 39, spaced approximately the diameter of the resistor, stops a lead wire positioned along one side of the resistor body from movement into unwanted contact with the lead wire on the other side.

The cap 4 is also hollow and tubular shaped with one end open so as to receive the base, and the other end closed by an integral head 44. The head 44 has a circumferential flange 45 with a flat surface 48 disposed toward the open end which abuts the panel and acts as a stop to limit longitudinal movement when the assembled device is installed on a panel. The inner transverse surface 50 of the head 44 is provided with either circular or transverse grooves 52, FIGURE 4, and the outer surface 8 is dome shaped and polished. This arrangement disperses the light rays given off when the lamp 54 is illuminated.

Near the open end of the cap 4 is a circumferential ridge 56 which has a rearwardly directed face 58 and a forwardly directed face 60. Face 60 of the cap abuts face 2d of the base when the device is assembled to prevent over-insertion of the base into the cap. Directly behind face 58 are two laterally opposed, rectangular openings 62 into which latching elements 8 spring outwardly. Subsequently, rearwardly disposed surfaces 12 of the latching elements lock behind surfaces 58 of the cap and prevent the base and cap from being pulled apart longitudinally.

On the outer surface of the cap 4 near the closed end are two laterally opposed fin-shaped locking members 64 which in the present embodiment are tangentially molded integral with the body of the cap. Locking mem bers 64, however, may extend from the cap at any angle which will cause them to bend in a wrap around fashion as the cap is pushed through a hole in a panel. These locking members hold the assembled device into a suitable hole in a panel. The fin-like members 64 are thin and flexible, and their leading edges 66 are inclined backwardly in a delta fashion thus providing an easy-entry means so that when the assembeld device is pushed into a hole in a panel, the fins will fold inwardly and wrap around the periphery of the cap, FIGURE 9. The rearwardly disposed edges 68 and 7th of the fin members 64 are inclined at a reverse angle (relative to the leading edges 66) with one of the edges of each fin member being axially disposed forwardly of the other. Edges 68 are positioned diametrically opposite Whereas edges 70 are positioned the same way. Thus, there are always at least two diametrically opposite edges locked in behind the panel so as to prevent the device from cocking in the panel. This is done so that one device can be used with a number of different panel sizes, as indicated schematically at 72 and '74 in FIGURE 4. The reverse angle on edges 62* and '76 allows the fins to adjust themselves to the particular panel thickness used. For example, for a thin panel, edges 68 may snap all the way back to their original position, whereas edges may snap back only to the point where their surfaces touch the edge of the hole in the panel, as particularly shown in FIGURE 10.

Even where the panel is thicker than the maximum spacing between surface 48 and edges 68 and 70, fins 64 will still afford sufiicient retention for some conditions of use. Note in FIGURE 9, for example, that the distal or lower portions of the fins have sprung outwardly even though edges 68 and 70 are still confined by the sidewalls of the panel aperture, and the spring of these portions resist any effort to back the device out of the aperture. A more secure lock of the device in thicker panels may be provided, if desired, by forming downwardly extending slots in the side edges of the fins which release their lower portions for independent spring action and abutment with the panel.

It will therefore be understood that a new and improved panel light has been provided which may be easily assembled as it is only necessary to stake the wires from the lamp and resistor to each other or to the terminals, whichever the case may be, and insert the subassembled parts into place. lso it will be noted that the terminals are simple in form, and may easily be fabricated by stamping them from sheet metal of electrical conductive material such as brass.

It will also be seen that a new and improved panel light has been provided which may be easily secured into a hole in a panel, and which will lock firmly into place over a wide range of panel thicknesses.

It will therefore be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown and described herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive 0f the invention.

I claim:

1. A housing for containing electrical components comprising a partially hollow insulative base member, latching means extending longitudinally and transversely outwardly from an outer surface of said base member, cradle means on the inside of said base member to hold electrical components therein, electrical terminals to be electrically connected to said electrical components and extending along a portion of said base member which maintains them insulated from each other, a hollow cap of stifily flexible insulating material having one end closed and provided with a flange, said cap slidably engaging said base member in an axial direction to encompass the outwardly extending electrical components and being provided with latching openings to receive said latching means to latch said base member and cap together, and integral fin-like members tangentially extending outwardly from said cap, said housing being insertable within an opening in a supporting panel with said fin like members moved inward toward the axis of said housing during insertion thereof and said fin-like members moving back toward their normal position thereby engaging one side of the panel while said flange engages the other side.

2. A housing for containing electrical components comprising a partially hollow insulative base member, cradle means at one end of said base member to hold electrical components therein, separating means at the other end of said base member to insulate electrical terminal means connected to said components, a hollow cap of stillly flexible insultaing material having one end closed and provided with an annular flange contiguous thereto, latching means extending longitudinally and transversely outwardly from one of said base member and cap, one of said base member and cap having latching openings to receive said latching means when said base member and cap slidably engage each other in an axial direction to latch said base member and cap together, and integral fin-like members tangentially extending outwardly from said cap, said housing being insertable within an opening in a supporting panel with said fin-like members moved inward toward the axis of said housing during insertion thereof and said fin-like members moving back toward their normal position thereby engaging one side of the panel while said flange engages the other side.

3. A housing according to claim 2 wherein said finlike members each have one edge inclined to aid in the insertion within the opening and another edge oppositely inclined with respect to said one edge so that said housing can be mounted in supporting panels of various thicknesses.

4. A housing according to claim 2 wherein said finlike members each have one edge inclined to aid in the insertion within the opening and another edge oppositely inclined with respect to said one edge, the other edges of each fin-like member have different axial spacings relative to said flange so that said housing can be mounted in supporting panels of various thicknesses.

5. A housing for a panel lamp or like device comprising an insulative base member having latching members protruding longitudinally and transversely from a sidewall thereof, said base member having an opening and longitudinal slots at one end to receive and hold an electrical lamp and terminals, the other end of said base member being closed and formed such that the terminals project therefrom and are laterally opposed, cont-act portions of said terminals being insulated and supported by said longitudinal slots of said base member, a cap of translucent plastic provided with an opening at one end which fits over a glass portion of the lamp and which slidably mounts onto said base member, said cap having latching openings to receive the latching members, said cap including an integral lens to diffuse and disperse the light rays from the lamp, and integral fin-like members projecting tangentially from said cap to hold the housing in place in an aperture in a supporting panel.

6. A housing for a panel lamp or like device comprising a partially hollow insulative base member having integral latching members protruding outwardly and transversely from a sidewall thereof, said latching members disposed on said body in a cantilever spring fashion, a cap of translucent plastic provided with an opening at one end which fits over a glass portion of the lamp and which slidably mounts onto the base member, said cap having latching openings formed therein to receive the latching members and hold the assembled device together longitudinally, said cap including an integral lens to diffuse and disperse light rays from the lamp, and integral fin-like members projecting tangentially from said cap to hold the housing in place in an aperture in a supporting panel.

7. A housing for a panel lamp or like device comprising an insulative base member having integral latching members protruding outwardly and transversely from a sidewall thereof, said base member having an opening and longitudinal slots at one end to receive and hold an electrical lamp and terminals, said terminals being of the blade type to receive mating receptacles and which are insulated and supported by said longitudinal slots of said base member, said terminals formed such that they lock in the longitudinal slots in such a manner to restrict longitudinal movement therein, said terminals bent over at the ends for squeezing and making electrical and mechanical contact with lead wires from said lamp, a cap of translucent plastic provided with an opening at one end which fits over a glass portion of the lamp and which slidably mounts onto said base member, said cap having latching openings to receive the latching members, said cap including an integral lens to diffuse and disperse light rays from the lamp, and integral fin-like members projecting tangentially from said cap to hold the housing in place in an aperture in a supporting panel.

8. A housing for a panel lamp or like device comprising an insulative base member having latching members protruding outwardly and transversely from a sidewall thereof, said base member having an opening and longitudinal slots at one end to receive and hold an electrical lamp and terminals, the other end of said body being closed and formed such that the terminals project therefrom and are laterally opposed, contact portions of said terminals being insulated and supported by said longitudinal slots of said base member, a cap of translucent plastic provided with an opening at one end which fits over a glass portion of the lamp and which slidably mounts onto said base member, said cap having latching openings to receive the latching members, said cap including an integral lens to diffuse and disperse light rays from the lamp, and integral fin-like members projecting tangentially from said cap to hold the housing in place in an aperture in a supporting panel, said fin-like members provided with leading edges which permit easy installation of the housing into said aperture in said panel, said fin-like members also provided with trailing edges which permit the housing to be mounted on a number of panel thicknesses in such a manner that the fin-like members will move toward their original position thereby locking the housing on said panel by at least two of said fin-like members.

9. For use in a signal structure containing a pilot lamp or the like having electrical leads, a housing comprising an insulative base member having one end open and provided with cradle means for receiving a base of said lamp, the other end of said base member being closed and defining a separating means to seperate electrical connector means lockingly disposed in said base member and connected to said leads of said lamp, integral latching means on said base member and having transverse engaging surfaces, a cap of translucent plastic material having one end provided with an opening to encompass said lamp, the other end of said cap defining a lens and provided with a flange thereat, said cap provided with latching openings for engagement by said transverse engaging surfaces to hold said base member and cap together in an axial direction, and integral flexibly stiff fin-like members extending tangentially outwardly from said cap, said flange and fin-like members defining holding means to hold said housing in an aperture provided in mounting panels of various thicknesses.

10. The housing as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tin-like members are provided with leading edges to facilitate easy insertion of said housing through said aperture which causes the fin-like members to be moved inward toward the axis of the housing upon movement therethrough, said fin-like members being also provided with trailing edges whereby at least two of the trailing edges engage one side of the mounting panel after insertion of said housing through the aperture by movement of the fin-like members toward their original position and the flange engages the other side of the mounting panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,223,673 12/40 Catron et a1. 200159 2,259,304 10/41 Foster 200-159 2,334,579 11/43 Powell 340-381 2,700,751 1/55 Hallerberg 340381 2,730,688 1/56 Miller 339-128 2,741,747 4/56 Woof-ter 339128 2,946,994 7/60 Dumke et a1. 340381 2,961,631 11/60 Smith 339-128 3,115,308 12/63 Stark 340381 NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HOUSING FOR CONTAINING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS COMPRISING A PARTIALLY HOLLOW INSULATIVE BASE MEMBER, LATCHING MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY OUTWARDLY FROM AN OUTER SURFACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER, CRADLE MEANS ON THE INSIDE OF SAID BASE MEMBER TO HOLD ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THEREIN, ELECTRICAL TERMINALS TO BE ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND EXTENDING ALONG A PORTION OF SAID BASE MEMBER WHICH MAINTAINS THEM INSULATED FROM EACH OTHER, A HOLLOW CAP OF STIFFLY FLEXIBLE INSULATING MATERIAL HAVING ONE END CLOSED AND PROVIDED WITH A FLANGE, SAID CAP SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID BASE MEMBER IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION TO ENCOMPASS THE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND BEING PROVIDED WITH LATCHING OPENINGS TO RECEIVE SAID LATCHING MEANS TO LATCH SAID BASE MEMBER AND CAP TOGETHER, AN INTEGRAL FIN-LIKE MEMBERS TANGENTIALLY EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CAP, SAID HOUSING BEING INSERTABLE WITHIN AN OPENING IN A SUPPORTING PANEL WITH SAID FIN-LIKE MEMBERS MOVED INWARD TOWARD THE AXIS OF SAID HOUSING DURING INSERTION THEREOF AND SAID FIN-LIKE MEMBERS MOVING BACK TOWARD THEIR NORMAL POSITION THEREBY ENGAGING ONE SIDE OF THE PANEL WHILE SAID FLANGE ENGAGES THE OTHER SIDE. 